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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Fifty Two: implying motion by using expressive blur > Left behind, Nha Trang, Vietnam, 2007
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26-DEC-2007

Left behind, Nha Trang, Vietnam, 2007

This woman was obviously waiting for someone – perhaps she was there to pick her child up from school. She was obviously bored, and seldom did her hand leave her face. I wanted to intensify her boredom by contrasting her stationary position with great energy and movement. I used a standard shutter speed of 1/50th of second to make this image. It defines my subject in great detail, yet the never-ending flood of passing motorbikes become nothing but blur at this shutter speed. I made many images of this scene, and the one I liked the best involves a high energy color – red – slashing past her with a rush of blur, leaving her well behind with nothing but her thoughts. The moving rider is placed squarely between her relaxed hand and the left hand edge of the image. She may dream at this moment in time, but within a short time, she, too, may become nothing but a blur of white.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/50s f/3.6 at 36.7mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis29-Jan-2008 23:40
I agree with you. This woman, by herself, still says something. Perhaps Vera meant that this lady, not the photograph itself, seems to be bored. In any event, I am glad you both find the movement of the motorbikes around her greatly enhance the expression here, just as in your New York City street shot.
JSWaters29-Jan-2008 21:10
Thank you Phil, for directing me here through your comment on my NYC image. The motion blur is the perfect way to express the constant hum and movement of both NY and Vietnam.http://www.pbase.com/image/92271988 Including the bored and waiting woman allows us to imagine taking the time to breath amidst the chaos. Without her static figure, there would be less story to tell and thereby less interest. I'm not quite sure I share Vera's opinion that the image would be boring without the blur, just that it would say something entirely different.
Jenene
Phil Douglis21-Jan-2008 05:01
I think that only one moving motorcycle made my frame, Alina, but as you say, the other will moving soon. It is the juxtaposition of static and moving elements that make the image express its idea.
Alina20-Jan-2008 22:40
Great idea. You captured two motorcyclists one is moving and the other will be moving soon.
Phil Douglis20-Jan-2008 02:16
The streets of Vietnam are as story unto themselves, Vera. Learning the cross the street is an hair raising adventure. You are right -- it is the blur of red contrasted to the bored, tired woman that makes this image sing. Without this contrast, the image would not be nearly as strong.
Guest 20-Jan-2008 01:19
Without the blur of the red, this photo would have been BORING like she is. I remember the sound of bikes buzzing by and the fear of trying to cross the road in Vietnam. Once again, you have evoked a feeling that I would have simply missed. It is amazing how she can just tune out to it all.
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